Kompilerer

Kompilerer, or compilers, are software tools that translate source code written in a high-level programming language into a form suitable for execution by a computer. The usual output is native machine code for a target processor, but compilers may also emit intermediate representations or bytecode for a virtual machine.

Most compilers follow several common stages. Lexical analysis breaks the source into tokens. Syntactic analysis (parsing) builds a structure that reflects the program’s grammar. Semantic analysis checks meanings, types, and scope. Optimization improves performance or size, and code generation translates the result into target code. A linker may then combine the generated code with libraries to form a runnable executable.

Compilers are classified by when and how they translate code. Ahead-of-time (AOT) compilers translate source before execution, producing standalone executables. Just-in-time (JIT) compilers translate during runtime, often enabling dynamic optimizations. Languages vary in their emphasis on static vs. dynamic typing, safety features, and the level of optimization performed by the compiler.

Common examples include C, C++, Rust, and Go compilers, as well as Java’s compiler that emits bytecode for the Java Virtual Machine. Many ecosystems use intermediate representations such as LLVM IR to enable multiple frontends and backends. Cross-compilers generate code for a different target architecture than the host system, and some compilers are used to bootstrap or self-host a language.

The study and development of compilers focus on correctness, performance, and informative error reporting, making them foundational to modern software development and system portability.